ActivitiesHikingHorsetail Falls Trailhead
Horsetail Falls Trailhead
South Shore, hiking, moderate
South shore canyon hike to a dramatic 500-foot waterfall. The Twin Bridges swimming hole at the trailhead is one of the best in the Sierra.
In short: Horsetail Falls Trailhead is a moderate hike on Lake Tahoe's South Shore: 4 mi round trip, 1,000 ft of elevation gain, a high point of 7,800 ft. The season is May – Oct, no permit is needed, dogs are allowed.
- Distance, round trip
- 4 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,000 ft
- High point
- 7,800 ft
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Where it is
Loading map…
Trail details
- Dramatic 500-ft waterfall
- Twin Bridges swimming hole
- High Sierra canyon
- Trail
- Horsetail Falls
- Season
- May – Oct
- Permit
- None needed
- Parking
- Free, Twin Bridges on Hwy 50
- Dogs
- Allowed
Go with a guide. Walk the basin with a local guide, on a trail matched to your group and the season.
Guided hikeConditions today
- Right now
- 72°F, Sunny
- Today
- High 72°, low 48°
- Wind
- 8 mph
- Campfires
- Metal rings only
- TomorrowPartly Cloudy, 10% chance of rain68° 45°
- ThuMostly Clear, 5% chance of rain74° 50°
- FriPM Storms, 75% chance of rain61° 44°
Know before you go
- Permits
- Desolation Wilderness needs a permit for both day hikes and overnight trips. Most other trails in the basin need none.
- Parking
- Lots at Eagle Falls, D.L. Bliss and other popular trailheads fill by 9am on summer weekends. Start early or go midweek.
- Altitude
- Trailheads start around 6,300 feet and the highest summits top 10,000. Carry more water than you would at sea level and take the first day easy.
- Weather
- Summer afternoons can bring thunderstorms. Plan to be off exposed ridges and summits by early afternoon.
More hiking within 5 miles
- Big Meadow Trailhead1.3 mi, moderate
- Echo Summit TRT Trailhead1.3 mi, moderate
- Echo Lake Trailhead2.9 mi, moderate
Nearest campgrounds
- Fallen Leaf Lake Campground7.6 mi, 206 sites
- Campground by the Lake9.9 mi, 170 sites
- Camp Richardson — RV Village10.1 mi, 98 sites